Reading for Joy

My late friend Joy Trieglaff loved studying Scripture. She was a sister of the book.

Shortly before the COVID pandemic began, Joy planned to deepen her understanding of Scripture by reading The New Testament in Its World. Authored by N.T. Wright and Michael Bird, this tome—and I mean tome—is a chunky, detailed introduction to the New Testament’s history, literature, and theology. Joy couldn’t wait to read it. But she never did.

Between the pandemic and her daughter’s death, Joy lacked the time and energy to crack Wright’s and Bird’s text. Then Joy died unexpectedly in May (2022). Her copy of The New Testament in Its World lay unopened.   

Joy’s death shook me. As I said, she was a friend. We confided in each other; we helped one another feel sane during insane times; and we shared many raucous laughs.

Mourning Joy’s death, I remembered her love of Scripture and I remembered her eagerness to read Wright’s and Bird’s introduction. As an act of love, remembrance, and solidarity, I’ve decided to read the book she never opened.

Throughout the coming months, I’ll post blogs about The New Testament in Its World. I’ll do this for Joy. I’ll do this for me. And I’ll do this for readers of my blog who, like Joy, love the word.